Link Report for Games of Saturday, September 1st

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP R.A. Dickey at Memphis (Cardinals), 5:55 PM pre-game; 6:10 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?cid=503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia: RHP Shawn Ferguson at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Helena: RHP Chad Robinson at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Arizona: Season complete

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_dbcafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_gboafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_bilrok_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Friday's games:

Arizona's standings reflect the final year both halves combined...

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 86 55 .610 - 48-24 38-31 L1 Iowa 79 62 .560 7.0 43-26 36-36 W1 Omaha 70 71 .496 16.0 45-27 25-44 L2 Memphis 56 85 .397 30.0 30-39 26-46 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 36 30 .545 - 18-16 18-14 W1 Tennessee 36 31 .537 0.5 22-13 14-18 W2 Chattanooga 35 32 .522 1.5 16-19 19-13 W3 Carolina 30 37 .448 6.5 15-17 15-20 L7 West Tenn 29 37 .439 7.0 12-20 17-17 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 37 30 .552 - 19-15 18-15 W3 Palm Beach 34 34 .500 3.5 17-18 17-16 L1 Brevard County 33 34 .493 4.0 19-14 14-20 W1 Jupiter 31 36 .463 6.0 19-15 12-21 W2 Daytona 25 43 .368 12.5 13-22 12-21 L3 Vero Beach 23 44 .343 14.0 12-19 11-25 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 40 26 .606 - 24-13 16-13 W4 Lakewood 36 30 .545 4.0 19-13 17-17 W6 Greensboro 33 34 .493 7.5 22-13 11-21 L4 Lake County 32 33 .492 7.5 17-16 15-17 L4 Delmarva 32 34 .485 8.0 15-17 17-17 W2 West Virginia 31 34 .477 8.5 18-14 13-20 L2 Lexington 28 39 .418 12.5 16-16 12-23 W2 Hagerstown 23 43 .348 17.0 11-22 12-21 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 21 9 .700 - 11-4 10-5 W2 Billings 16 15 .516 5.5 9-7 7-8 L1 Helena 15 16 .484 6.5 7-9 8-7 W1 Missoula 13 18 .419 8.5 7-8 6-10 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 37 19 .661 - 24-4 13-15 W1 AZL Angels 33 23 .589 4.0 20-8 13-15 L1 AZL Giants 33 23 .589 4.0 17-11 16-12 W9 AZL Padres 28 28 .500 9.0 17-11 11-17 W1 AZL Royals 28 28 .500 9.0 15-13 13-15 L1 AZL Cubs 27 29 .482 10.0 14-14 13-15 W3 AZL Athletics 25 31 .446 12.0 14-14 11-17 L1 AZL Rangers 22 34 .393 15.0 11-17 11-17 L3 AZL Brewers 19 37 .339 18.0 10-18 9-19 W1 

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's series in Memphis is available via MiLB.TV for a small fee:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/multimedia/video.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Matt LaPorta yet another home run. He was slugging .683 (!) coming into the game, .740 as a member of the Power.

 

He certainly plays in an appropriately named jersey.

[wvpowerblkwel]

And on top of that, Matt's not getting good pitches to hit! Pitchers typically work him around the edges and have him swinging early in the count if the pitch looks decent. He's working hard, and taking advantage of mistakes...he really is fun to watch!

[SoCalBrewfan]

Laporta in WV with 9 singles, 8 doubles, 9 home runs, and a pace of 100 extra-base hits per 500 AB. With the graduations of Braun, Gallardo, and Parra, the trade of Inman, the suspensions of Jeffress and Salome, can there be any doubt as to the team's #1 prospect in offseason lists?

 

Edit: I guess the graduation of Parra is anything but a foregone conclusion at this point.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Pitching Coach Stan Kyles:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%209-1.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 8, Memphis (Cardinals) 5

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for R.A. Dickey photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2543

 

Dickey Wins Lucky 13th In 8-5 Sounds Victory

 

MEMPHIS - R.A. Dickey worked six strong innings to earn his league-leading 13th victory of the season in the Nashville Sounds' 8-5 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday evening at AutoZone Park.

 

With the win, Nashville improved the best record in Triple-A baseball to 87-55.

 

Dickey (13-6), the 2007 Pacific Coast League Pitcher-of-the-Year, took over sole possession of the league victories lead after allowing one run on five hits over six innings of action. With the outing, the Nashville native dropped his ERA to 3.72 on the year and improved to 9-2 in his last 15 starts.

 

The knuckleballer, who is slated to serve as the Sounds' starter in their playoff opener on Wednesday, was removed after throwing 76 pitches.

 

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Mike Ferris touched Dickey for a two-out solo homer to center, his second roundtripper of the year.

 

Redbirds starter Brad Thompson worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits, before departing after throwing 62 pitches.

 

Nashville took immediate advantage of Thompson's departure by grabbing a 2-1 lead in the sixth against Memphis reliever Mike Venafro. Drew Anderson greeted the left-hander with a single then stole second. After a Brad Nelson walk and a Venafro wild pitch that advanced the runners to second and third, Andy Abad plated the tying run with an RBI single to right.

 

After Laynce Nix was caught looking for the first out, Hugo Castellanos was summoned from the Memphis bullpen and promptly walked Mike Rivera to load the bases with one out. Ozzie Chavez followed with a grounder to second and was forced at first base for the second out of the inning. Ferris, the Redbirds' first baseman, then threw to second to retire Rivera to complete the double play but not before Nelson scored the go-ahead run from third.

 

The Sounds extended the lead to 7-1 in the seventh with a five-run outburst against Castellanos. Pinch-hitter Callix Crabbe and Jose Macias opened the frame with back-to-back solo homers to right off Castellanos. Crabbe's blast was his ninth of the year and Nashville's third pinch blast (second by Crabbe), while Macias' shot was his second. It was the fourth set of consecutive taters by Sounds batters this season.

 

AUDIO: Crabbe Pinch-Hit HR

 

After the Sounds loaded the bases with one out, Laynce Nix grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Anderson to score from third, making it a 5-1 contest. Rivera followed with a deep fly ball to left-center that caromed off the railing beyond the outfield wall but was ruled a double, which plated a pair of runs to up the visitors' lead to six.

 

Memphis got three runs back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally again new Sounds relievers Matt Ginter and Franklin Nunez, highlighted by a bases-loaded two-run double off the bat of Edgar Gonzalez that reduced the Nashville lead to 7-4.

 

The Redbirds' comeback continued an inning later as the home team loaded the bases with none out against Nunez before the right-hander uncorked a wild pitch to allow Stavinoha to score to make it a 7-5 contest. Nunez recovered to retire the next two batters before turning things over to Kenny Ray, who fanned McCoy with two men in scoring position to escape further damage.

 

Nashville tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Anderson singled off Mark Worrell, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error by Pagnozzi from behind the plate, and scored unearned on a Nix sacrifice fly to make it an 8-5 Sounds lead.

 

Ray retired the Redbirds in order in the ninth to earn his third save of the year and his first as a member of the Sounds.

 

Venafro (0-1) was saddled with his first loss of the year after allowing two runs in just one-third of an inning of work.

 

Sounds second baseman Ozzie Chavez went 0-for-4 to snap his season-best hitting streak at 11 games. In his final at-bat of the evening, he was robbed of a hit by centerfielder Joe Mather, who made a diving catch to end the top of the seventh inning.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6:40 meeting on Sunday evening. Right-hander Tim Dillard (7-4, 4.71) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Memphis southpaw Randy Keisler (8-10, 4.68).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Drew Anderson and Andy Abad on base four times, Mike Rivera thrice -- I really haven't used "thrice" enough this season; the four new pitchers (Zumwalt, Ray, Nunez, and Ginter) all working the rust off this week...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_01_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham (White Sox) 0

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1349

 

A Strange Saturday Win for Stars

 

Ryan Wing tossed no-hit baseball for 7 2/3 innings but Adam Russell's wildness in the ninth inning led to the only runs of the game in Huntsville's 4-0 win over Birmingham Saturday night in the middle game of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Stars improved to 37-30 in the second half and maintained their half-game lead in the North Division over victorious Tennessee, while the Barons dropped to 29-39 in the second half. The Stars won back-to-back games for the first time in 18 days to take a lead of ten games to eight in the season series with Birmingham.

 

Wing fanned Carlos Corporan and Ryan Crew to open the eighth before Guilder Rodriguez singled into right field to pick up the visitors' first hit and chase Wing from the game in his longest outing of the season. He struck out six and walked two and did not allow a runner to reach second base. Adam Russell took over for Wing and struck out Steve Moss to end the frame after Rodriguez stole second base.

 

Stars' starter Derek Miller tossed seven shutout frames, allowing three hits, walking three and fanning a single-game high nine. He did not allow a hit after Sean Smith's one-out single in the third and wound up stranding Smith at third base in the first and third innings. E.J. Shanks tossed two scoreless frames to team with Miller on a shutout for a second straight start by the southpaw.

 

Alcides Escobar, who knocked in the winning run Friday night, singled to open the ninth, moved to second base on a Steve Sollmann sacrifice bunt and to third base on an Adam Heether ground out before Russell walked Lou Palmisano and Brendan Katin to load the bases. The right-hander then hit Corporan with an 0-1 pitch to force in the game's first run before walking Crew on four pitches to push Palmisano across with the second run. Russell was lifted in favor of Fernando Hernandez, who gave up a two-run single to Guilder Rodriguez that completed the winning rally.

 

The series continues Sunday afternoon with left-hander Lindsay Gulin taking the hill for the Stars against Barons' right-hander Kyle McCulloch. Coverage begins at 4:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Steve Moss down to .233 with an 0-for-5 night -- his OBP is at a decent .341 (OPS .718); Lou Palmisano's three walks give him 57 in 102 games for a .370 OBP; Derek Miller should open 2008 in Nashville's rotation...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_01_hunaax_biraax_1

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

http://www.starsboxscore.com/

 

MR. CLUTCH

G. ROD BREAKS UP NO-HITTER, THEN DRIVES IN 2 IN 9th

 

Nothing at stake here? The Stars are already in the playoffs, sure....... But there's the matter of having a huge home advantage (4 games at the Joe in the first round of the playoffs) through the post-season, and a little history. No Stars team has won both halves of a season, and this would be their 3rd straight half-season title -- if they could hold on to a half-game lead over the Tennessee Smokies, who anxiously await the Stars next Thursday at the Joe for Game 1 of the Northern Division Playoffs........ Tonight, while Ryan Wing was pursuing a no-hitter over the Stars late in tonight's game at Regions Field, the Smokies were securely in front of the Carolina Mudcats, 7-0. The pressure was on the Stars and Derek Miller, who was likewise holding the Barons scoreless through seven innings.

 

Wing, who had walked just two, fanned Carlos Corporan and Ryan Crew to open the 8th, then Guilder Rodriguez went the other way on a 1-0 pitch for a single to right to break up the no-hitter before over 3,400 fans including some that had made the trek from Huntsville..... That chased Wing, who beat the Stars twice this year, including a two-hit, five-inning scoreless performance back on June 15...... Adam Russell, 1-0/1.76 in five appearances against the Stars this seaosn, took over for Wing in the 8th and struck out Steve Moss (his 122nd) to end the 8th....... Add that to last year's 136 strikeouts, and Moss, in his 2nd season with the Stars, is 26 away from Brad Nelson's career record of 284, which took him four years to compile.

 

Ryan Wing's no-hit effort was hard to match, but Derek Miller held the Barons to just three hits over seven scoreless innings, giving him 13 scoreless innings over his last two starts....... Two of those three hits were singles by Sean Smith, which he parlayed into stolen bases....... E.J. Shanks (who told me he had been throwing submarine-style for only two years) took over for Miller in the 8th and couldn't get Smith out either. With one out, he singled, but was erased when Victor Mercedes, who hit .345 in August, hit into a double play.

 

Finally, the deadlock was broken in the top of the 9th due to Russell's wildness...... With two out and Alcides Escobar on 3rd after a single, a sacrifice, and a fielder's choice, Russell, who had walked only two hitters in his five previous appearances of the season vs. Huntsville, walked Lou Palmisano and Brendan Katin to load the bases...... On Russell's 2nd pitch, he hits Carlos Corporan to force in the first run of the game. Then he walks Ryan Crew to force in another........G. Rod, who broke up Wing's no-hitter the last inning, then drove a ground ball up the middle for a two-run single, giving the Stars a 4-0 lead....... Shanks gave up a one-out single to Shawn Garrett in the bottom of the 9th, but Cory Aldridge grounded out and David Cook struck out swinging to end the game, giving the Stars back-to-back victories for the first time since August 12, 14....... They got them when it counted the most. The Stars went on to lose 13 of 18.........

 

Yes, the Stars are already in the playoffs, but you'd think they were fighting for a spot all over again......... Sunday, they'll send Lindsay Gulin to the mound for his final shot at win #12, which has eluded him four times........ Kyle McCulloch, who beat the Stars, 6-4 on August 11, gets the call for Birmingham.

 

The Stars will open the 2008 season at Joe Davis Stadium against the Mississippi Braves for the 3rd straight season on April 3, and end it in Chattanooga against the Lookouts at AT&T Park on September 1. In between are 20 meetings against the Carolina Mudcats -- the most in Stars history against this team -- two home series May 15-19 and August 23-27 and visits to Five County Stadium, June 24-29 and July 22-26...... The Stars will face Jacksonville at home, April 24-28.

 

In what turned out to be the biggest surprise promotion of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers purchased the contracts (since they weren't on the 40-man roster) of Mel Stocker and Mitch Stetter and called them up to the majors. Both players made their major league debuts Saturday night -- the 170th and 171st former Huntsville Stars to graduate to the majors........ Stetter pitched the 9th of a 12-3 victory over the Pirates, giving up a run, throwing 13 pitches, six for strikes. He did not give up a hit and walked one. Stocker came into the game in the 8th defensively, then hit into a force play in the bottom of the inning........ Stocker's promotion is surprising in the sense that he was a free agent pick-up at the start of the season and was, essentially, just filler material for the minor league system. A former Kansas City farmhand, he stole 44 bases for Class A-Wilmington (Carolina) in 2004 and 56 bases in the indy circuit for Long Island (Atlantic) last year...... He turned 27 at the beginning of the season, which put him past prospect status, but his aggressiveness on the basepaths and his solid defensive work in all three outfield posts apparently went noticed....... Stocker and Hernan Iribarren helped the Stars establish a new club record for triples on August 18 with 47. Iribarren hit his league-leading 12th triple to break the old record of 46, which was set in 1989....... Stocker left the Stars with 10 triples and 35 stolen bases, the most in three years....... Replacing Stocker on the Stars' roster will be 5'10' outfielder Mike Goetz, who was promoted from Helena (Pioneer)...... Goetz, a left-handed hitter, was batting .318 for Helena and slugging .462. A 25th round draft pick in 2006, he was 3-for-19 in his last six games.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1188725145324250.xml&coll=1

 

Stars notebook

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

Covering the bases

 

Huntsville outfielder Mel Stocker has been promoted to the Milwaukee Brewers. Major league teams could expand their rosters from 25 to 40 players on Saturday and Milwaukee wanted to add speed to the team. Stocker's role will likely be limited to pinch-running (he had 35 stolen bases) and late-inning defensive replacement roles. Ex-Stars Carlos Villanueva, Mitch Stetter and Vinny Rottino have also been called up. ... Outfielder Mike Goetz has been moved from Helena to Huntsville to fill Stocker's spot. ...

 

Stars pitchers Steve Hammond and Dave Johnson, catcher Lou Palmisano and third baseman Adam Heether will be playing in the Arizona Fall League this year for the Mesa Solar Sox. Stars hitting coach Sandy Guerrero will serve on the Mesa staff. The league is for extended development of teams' top prospects. Stetter and Tim Dillard, former Huntsville pitchers now at Nashville, are also assigned to the team along with outfielder Matt LaPorta, who'll vie for a Huntsville roster spot next year. ...

 

The more you look at the Southern League All-Star team, the more you realize Stars second baseman Hernan Iribarren got the shaft. His numbers, except for stolen bases, clearly exceed those of Mobile second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. ... Jeremy Jeffress, the Brewers' No. 1 pick in 2006, was suspended 50 games after he tested positive for "a drug of abuse." The 19-year-old, who was on track to arrive in Huntsville by late '08 or early '09, will go through rehabilitation through Milwaukee's employee assistance program. ... After "home field advantage" was examined so closely for football on these pages last weekend, what about for baseball? "I don't really think so," said manager Don Money. "We're just as good on the road as we are at home." Indeed, the Stars were only seven games over .500 at home (38-31) this season and 35-30 on the road going into Saturday night's game at Birmingham. ...

 

Minor league baseball is all about development. But part of that can be the experience of winning, of being involved in a pennant race.

 

"Hopefully guys are learning from it," Money said. "In the first half, we were in (one) for the last three weeks, then we finally won it. We treated that like a playoff run. Every game meant something."

 

Around the league

 

Montgomery clinched the Southern League South title Friday with its 6-3 win over Jacksonville. It was the 12th straight win for the Biscuits, who this half have almost mimicked the Stars' 2006 season.

 

They'll play Mississippi, which went from first to worst, in the SL South playoffs this week, starting Thursday in Jackson, Miss. ... Mobile manager Brett Butler underwent a series of test recently at Atlanta's Emory Hospital after suffering a mild stroke in July. According to a report by Tommy Hicks in Mobile's Press-Register, doctors found scar tissue in his throat from his radiation treatment for throat cancer 11 years ago. It led to a narrowing of one of the arteries, leading to the stroke. Butler is expected to recover fully in six months. Matt Williams has been serving as interim manager. ... The Chicago Cubs have done their part to help the Smokies in their postseason run. They have shipped pitchers Kevin Hart and Sean Gallagher back down from Triple-A to Tennessee, where they began the season. Also in the Tennessee rotation is former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija. ... Gallagher would likely start game one of the playoffs, coming off a six-day rest.

 

Brewings

 

Nashville (86-55, clinched first in Pacific Coast League North): Frank Kremblas named PCL Manager of the Year, RHP R.A. Dickey and LHP Adam Pettyjohn (11 wins in 16 starts since his promotion from Huntsville) named to All-Star team.

 

Brevard County (33-34, third in Florida State League East after winning first half): John Tamargo named FSL Manager of the Year, 3B Mat Gamel (.300, 9 HRs, 60 RBIs) named utility player on All-Star team

 

West Virginia (31-34, sixth in South Atlantic League North after winning first half): 3B Taylor Green (.329, 14 HRs, 86 RBIs) named to All-Star team.

 

Helena (15-16, third place Pioneer League North after winning first half): OF Caleb Gindl (league-leading .364, 5 HRs, 38 RBIs), C Jonathan Lucroy (.333, 2 HR, 33 RBIs), 2B Eric Farris (.308, 1 HR, 29 RBIs) and RHP Roque Mercedes (7-4, 3.76) named to All-Star team.

 

Arizona Brewers (12-16, eighth in Arizona League): 3B Joey Paciorek (.281, 2 HRs, 13 RBIs)

 

On deck

 

The Stars play at Birmingham today at 5 p.m, then close the regular season Monday at 1. They'll host the first round of the Southern League North championship series, most likely against Tennessee, on Thursday, with game two on Friday.

 

If the Stars win the second half, they could also host games four and five in the best-of-five series.

[Mass Haas]

Cubs, Manatees postponed

 

Saturday's Florida State League game between the Daytona Cubs and Brevard County Manatees has been postponed due to rain at Space Coast Stadium.

It will be made up as part of a doubleheader at 4:30 PM (3:30 Central) on Sunday in Daytona.

 

***

The Manatees lose a home game but not another game off the schedule -- no postseason implications.

 

The St Lucie Mets, by virtue of the Manatees win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Friday night, August 31st, have clinched the FSL's Eastern Division's 2nd Half Championship. The Mets will host Brevard County in game #1 of the Best-of-Three Game Series on Tuesday, September 4th, at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). The Manatees will host Games #2 and #3 (if necessary) on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 5, Greensboro (Marlins) 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER STOMPS 'HOPPERS IN SERIES OPENER

 

Shawn Ferguson threw six strong innings and Matt LaPorta launched his ninth home run in 21 games to vault the West Virginia Power past the Greensboro Grasshoppers 5-2 on Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.

 

LaPorta's bomb, a two-run line-drive shot to left, put the capper on a three-run Power sixth inning as West Virginia turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 advantage. The 2007 first-round draft pick has now hit in 12 consecutive games and sits at 25 RBI during his stay in Charleston.

 

Ferguson (5-1) got through six solid frames on the strength of just 78 pitches. He allowed two runs, both earned, and induced Greensboro to ground into a trio of double plays. The Power right-hander will get the start in Game Two of the first round of the South Atlantic League playoffs against the Hickory Crawdads. Game Two is Friday night as Appalachian Power Park will host its first-ever postseason contest.

 

Kyle Winters (8-4) also went six innings for the 'Hoppers, but was the victim of an opportunistic West Virginia offense that did not strand a single runner on the base paths. Winters surrendered four runs on four hits and registered six strikeouts during his outing. He removed himself from the ballgame after warming up for the seventh inning.

 

The Power dented the scoreboard first as John Alonso blasted an opposite-field solo homer in the bottom of the second. Alonso now has six long balls on the season.

 

After being held hitless through three innings, Greensboro broke out for a pair of runs on three hits in the fourth. Justin Webb walked to lead off the frame and was driven home by a ringing double off the bat of Scott Cousins. Spike McDougall singled Cousins to second and Logan Morrison ripped a single to right, plating Cousins for a 2-1 Grasshopper lead.

 

Brent Brewer scored an insurance run for West Virginia in the eighth as he singled, stole second, advanced to third on a Charlie Fermaint grounder and came home on a Jay Buente wild pitch.

 

D.J. Lidyard navigated the seventh and eighth nicely for the Power and then gave way to Matt Kretzschmar for the ninth. Kretzschmar danced around a one-out walk to earn his third save.

 

The Power and 'Hoppers continue their three-game series Sunday evening. West Virginia sends lefty Mike Ramlow (4-5, 6.32) to the rubber and Greensboro will start fellow southpaw Tom Cowley (5-6, 4.81). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_gboafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_01_gboafx_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 11, Billings (Reds) 7

 

Helena Site Game Summary:

Helena Wins Second in a Row

 

The Helena Brewers won the deciding game of the three game series against the Billings Mustangs Saturday night. The Brewers managed to pound out 15 hits for 11 runs to win the game 11-7. Helena was led by the hitting of DH Eric Newton, who went three for four with a walk, two doubles and a home run, resulting in three RBI.

 

Billings started off the game with a quick run in the first inning. With one out and no one on, outfielder Mike Jones hit his fourth home run of the season. The lead wouldn't last long however, as Newton blasted a three-run shot to give the Brewers the lead. Billings managed to tie it back up in the fourth, but it was short lived as Helena notched another run in the bottom half. They wouldn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the way, tacking on three more runs on in the process.

 

After scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, three by a Brandon Waring bomb, the Brewers locked up the game 11-7. Dan Merklinger, the lefty out of Seton Hall got the win for Helena coming on in relief to pitch four innings giving up only one hit and striking out five. Josh Ravin picked up the loss for the Mustangs going four innings, giving up four runs on five hits.

 

Helena's next home game will be Wednesday, September 5th against Missoula at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) at Kindrick Field.

 

Helena Box Score:

Zach McAngus with a big game, 3-for-4 with a walk, double, run scored, two RBI, and still the best name in the organization; RHP Chad Robinson exhibited better control if still not a "strong" outing; 19-year-old Dominican RHP Pedro Lambertus struggled in his Pioneer League debut -- his Maryvale numbers were poor as well, but there must be something there the Brewers wanted to see more of this season...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_01_bilrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_01_bilrok_helrok_1